Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Air powered world

I've been discovering more and more about different pneumatic systems that are around the world.  Here is a New Yorker article about the trash disposal system on Roosevelt Island, New York City, Ny, USA.  Pretty cool.

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/11/17/031117ta_talk_taylor

Here's a wired magazine pic series
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/08/trash-sucking-island/all/

And a video tour
http://vimeo.com/11804927

Here is an annoying pdf link by the US Postal service, but it is full of amazing info about a couple of postal systems that were installed back in the day.  They wanted to be able to ship 50 pound objects throughout the system!

http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/pneumatic-tubes.pdf

Imagine if we could put a system with RFID tags going through these tubes for routing.  Use wind or solar for power boosting and you could get rid of a few trucks  from the road.  Truly an internet of TUBEZ!!1!  sorry, had to do that.

Besides banks and other tellers, I've never seen a pneumatic system move much.  Oh wait, I found an elevator!   Futurama here we come!

http://www.daytonaelevator.com/Pneumatic%20Vacuum%20Elevator%20Main%20Page.htm

I wonder what would happen if you laid people on their backs for that?

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